Perceive belongs to that enigmatic group of perfumes I think of as "non-scents". Also in this group are Simply by Clinique, White Couture by Givenchy, L'Eau par Kenzo, Yohji original for Women, 212 for Women by Carolina Herrera, and, marginally, Pleasures Mineral by Estee Lauder.

These perfumes seem a conconction of synthetic notes that try painfully hard not to be "perfume-y". Despite the stated ingredients, there are no discernable florals and the musk bases are white, thin, and synthetic. Often people's first description of these fragrances is "alcohol". The abovementioned perfumes are fairly interchangeable, being differentiated only by a wan floral here, a shy pepper there, or a tiresome marine note. Perceive is no exception, although there is a slight warmth to it that, while clashing with all the sanitizer, does make it slightly more approachable than others in its class. On the plus side, it does not have the replusive yet compelling feel of a rectory buffet that most other Avon scents do.

This group of perfumes is better suited to being a Demeter scent line called "Hospital", with its santizer top notes covering a skanky diaper note (supposed "musk"). With no florals to round things out, or spices to distract, Perceive and its kin will roam the halls of General Hospital forever.